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Transit is a GO in Governor’s budget

Update:
The Governor’s State of the State address last night focused on providing
leadership to solve problems for Minnesota and end the chronic deficits we have
faced over the last several years. Transit for Livable Communities, a member of
the Invest in Minnesota coalition, believes that increased revenue must be part
of the solution to provide for a future that works for the residents of this state.

The Governor last night spoke of delivering jobs and support for business to
provide those jobs. More transit does this. He spoke about delivering efficient
services, maintaining a healthy environment, and efforts to keep seniors in
their homes and to make college more affordable. More transit helps do this.

Minnesotans by a vast majority support increased investment in transit—as a way
to reduce traffic, create jobs, and help make budgets balance for working
families, students, and seniors.

The Governor’s plan would broaden the sales tax and specifically fund transit
expansion through an increase in the sales tax. While it does not go the whole
distance, the Governor’s budget would put in place a stable base of funding for
metro area transit —bus and rail.

In the case of transit, there are clear indications that investing more will
have a high return on investment for the state.

As noted in our response to the Governor’s budget (see below), our coalition plan would do more.

The Governor has funded his vision. To those who criticize elements of his
plan, remember that to embrace the vision for better transit in Minnesota
without embracing the funding needed is false, empty leadership. Doing nothing
also is not an option. It is time to act. We need transit for a stronger economy.

Original Response to Governor Dayton's Budget Proposal:

Governor Dayton’s budget proposal today sends a clear signal
that transit is essential to building a stronger economy. It includes a mix of
cuts and new revenue, including for transit. The overall plan takes two major
steps forward.

Firstly, the Governor’s budget recognizes that building out
the regional transit system—bus and rail—will create jobs, attract top
employers, and make it more affordable to get to work and school. The build out
of the regional system will create 30,000 jobs, according to the Itasca Project
report (pdf). The experience of the Central Corridor shows that subcontractors and
workers come from all over the state.

Secondly, the Governor’s attention to the overall budget
structure hopefully will mean that we can count on steady and expanding transit
service, rather than funding battles that have resulted in whittling away of bus
service. A stable funding platform eliminates uncertainty for everyone—for businesses
and for individual families planning their budgets.

The Governor’s budget includes broadening the base of the
sales tax and adding a new ¼ cent sales tax in the metro. These funds would:

expand bus service by 1% each year—the first
increase to basic bus service in a decade, and

fund the Southwest LRT, Bottineau LRT, Gateway
LRT or BRT, I-35W South BRT, up to 12 Rapid Bus or streetcar corridors, and up
to 5 additional highway BRT lines.

This is a huge step forward in recognizing that we must
increase access to transit for Minnesota families, seniors, and students. We
know that transportation is the second largest household expense (after
housing) and more people are turning to transit as gas prices remain high. We
also know that more people are bicycling and walking for transportation.

We do have some concerns in these areas. As we dig deeper
into the governor’s budget and continue working at the legislature, TLC and the
Transit for a Stronger Economy coalition will be looking to make sure:

that greater Minnesota transit service is not
left behind. Transit use is growing in Greater Minnesota and makes a huge
difference to seniors, people with disabilities, and to residents in cities
like Duluth, Saint Cloud, and Rochester, and

that cities and counties have funds for
providing sidewalks, safer crossings, bike routes, and access for people with
disabilities.

The Governor’s budget sends a very strong signal about the
importance of transit. It’s a great floor for the session ahead, but it’s not
quite the whole structure we need for Minnesota to thrive.

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Comments

I do agree that it is great that our Governor is showing his support for Public Transit. He needs to do more! He needs to give his support in funds to support the future of a better transit system and not let us fall to the wayside by a lack of funding that can make the future of transit whole! We need more then the 20%, while road construction gets funded with 80% of the funds. Is that right?